Why Live Edge Tables are Trending in Offices

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:30:55 GMT

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The popularity of live edge furniture made from reclaimed wood slab lumber is on the rise in commercial office space design. And no wonder. Each piece of live edge furniture is a unique piece of art, made from a one-of-a-kind piece of wood expertly crafted to highlight the natural characteristics of the reclaimed wood slab, including the unique natural grain, knots, voids, and surface imperfections.

The Natural Wood Trend is IN: Live Edge Furniture Brings the Feel of Nature Inside the Office. Natural wood is having a moment in today’s commercial office environments.

The recycling movement known as “upcycling” might be stoking the wood design trend; for example, have you noticed the increasing use of rough-sawn barn doors (using highly visible overhead rails) used in both commercial and residential interiors?

Another possible explanation is a renewed fascination with wood and its properties as a material. After all, wood is a uniquely sustainable and environmentally-friendly material (when harvested responsibly) that reconnects us with the natural world, while at the same time, reducing our carbon footprint.

Indeed, wood seems to have caught the attention of architects and structural engineers in recent times.

For example, the proposed 70-story wooden structure now under consideration in Tokyo, Japan would be the world’s tallest wood building (at 1,148 feet) when completed.

The renaissance in wood’s popularity is also fueled by the taste sensibilities of the Millennial generation. Not only do they love plants in the home and in the office, they are also busy rediscovering the great furniture designers of the mid-century, modern design period, such as Charles and Ray Eames, famous for their bent plywood furniture creations, and George Nakashima, the Japanese-American master of live edge furniture design.

Nakashima’s live edge furniture designs highlight the natural features of reclaimed wood slabs by emphasizing the features that are usually hidden from view (by careful sawing at the lumberyard), such as natural bark surfaces, as well as internal voids caused by stresses, knots, etc.

Born in Spokane, Washington in 1905, Nakashima earned his Master’s in Architecture at MIT, then he traveled the world before moving Japan during the 1930s, where he worked for one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural collaborators in Tokyo. In his explorations of Japan, Nakashima was able to experience firsthand the Japanese design aesthetic known as wabi-sabi celebrates natural defects and variations in materials (in contrast to the prevailing Western design aesthetic that promotes uniformity and perfection.)

The wabi-sabi aesthetic influenced Nakashima’s work as wood sculptor and furniture maker throughout his career. By carefully selecting reclaimed wood slab pieces, Nakashima was able to make one-of-a-kind furniture pieces that are wildly collectible today. (If you are interested in an original Nakashima, check out listings on 1st Dibs, the high-end auction site for architects and designers. You’ll find prices can go up the high 5 figures for his live edge wood slabs table and bench designs.)

You want Hand-Made Live Edge Furniture Designs for Your Office. We Make it Easy.

Given the rarity and cost of original Nakashima furniture, today’s architects and interior office designers looking to incorporate this design aesthetic into their office environments will commission a custom piece of furniture incorporating a reclaimed wood slab.

Here are three of the top reasons our customers choose Shah Woodworks to handcraft their live edge furniture projects.

Make a Signature Design Statement:

There’s no question about it. Specifying live edge furniture for the office sends a powerful message about your company and your brand. Live edge furniture is not for the meek. It makes a powerful, engaging, eye-catching, memorable, and unique statement.

On Trend Aesthetic Design Elements:

Prevailing design trends make live edge furniture the right choice, thanks to its use of unique, one-of-a-kind recycled natural materials that incorporate popular mid-century modern design aesthetics and biophilic design elements.

Commitment to Sustainability :

Reclaimed wood slab tables, desks, countertops, and conference tables tell a story about your company’s commitment to sustainable business practices that are hard to ignore. Formaspace takes this very seriously. Unlike some of our competitors — who have been found to be harvesting virgin trees in sensitive forests (such as those in Brazil) — we only supply wood for live edge projects from local American trees that have fallen due to natural causes.

Guide to Slab Selection

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:24:02 GMT

GUIDE TO SLAB SELECTION

With a Live Edge Wood Slab, you can expect that the live edge design, it’s one of a kind nature and captivating shapes and textures will impress guests and frequent users alike.

Slabs are wood in its rawest form. With that raw form comes a uniqueness and beauty that other choices cannot match. Combined with a strong base the slab provides a great surface for meals, seating and meetings. The strength of wood slabs show the quality of a material that will last for years to come.Each slab is unique and filled with character. Slabs most often contain wood defects such as checks, knots, and holes that contribute to the unique look in each slab. When treated skillfully, these flaws do not pose a problem but add to the overall beauty. The staff at Maxsun strive to find a great slab for your furnishing needs.

Slabs are usually custom ordered as the sizes are typically determined by what is available from mills. You usually first decide what the intended use is and then choose the type of wood species. For example, if what you are looking for is a large communal table you would want a slab approximately 30-36” in width and 72-96” in length, and perhaps you prefer the look of walnut. We would then search through our resources and see what fits your request. Typically the wider and larger the slabs are, the bigger, older and rarer the tree was – and thus more highly priced. The staff at Maxsun furnishings will help you choose the best wood type to meet your preferences.

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Why Live Edge Tables are Trending in Offices

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Guide to Slab Selection

GUIDE TO SLAB SELECTION